Triple-play provider, Tiscali UK, has signed a licensing deal with
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution that gives it the
rights to offer around 400 hours of premium on-demand content to
subscribers of its Tiscali TV service via a Warner Bros.-branded VOD
channel, Warner TV (note: Tiscali TV is the current manifestation of
the pioneering UK IPTV service, HomeChoice). Titles covered by the
new deal include "Nip/Tuck," "The OC" and "Smallville." The new
channel--which will be offered as part of Tiscali TV's Entertainment
Xtra Mix programming package--is the latest in a series of deals
Warner Bros. has signed to launch branded VOD channels around the
world: Warner TV VOD channels are also offered by ProSieben in
Germany, by Virgin Media and BT Vision in the UK, by GyaO in
Japan, and by Free TV in France. The company says that it is also set to
launch them on Orange in France and in India.
In other Tiscali TV news: The service has launched a search application
that allows its subscribers to conduct searches--by such categories as
title, cast members and subject matter--across its broadcast, VOD and
catch-up content. Subscribers have the option of confining their
searches to an individual channel or to broadcast programming, VOD
programming or catch-up programming respectively. The app also
allows subscribers to schedule reminders and recordings, and to add
programs to their favorites lists. "The consumer and content are at the
heart of everything we do, with this new search tool representing a
continuation of our efforts to innovate and make the viewing
experience for Tiscali TV subscribers as simple, easy and fun as
possible," Simon Hunt, Tiscali's director of television, said in a
prepared statement.
